Janice sat at the dining room table, looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows to the garden. The pleasant view, the sun streaming in and her favourite lunchtime salad on the menu served to brighten her mood. Plus, her daughter would visit this afternoon, and perhaps one of her grandsons. She smiled as she got up to leave. She reached for her walker, but she’d forgotten to put the brakes on, and as she twisted to get it, it shot away, and she went down.
The next hour blurred when she tried to remember it. The dietary aid putting something under her head as they waited for the nurse and then the paramedics. Screaming in pain as they transferred her to a gurney. Her daughter’s face floated above her. The hospital. The pain. Her whole life changed in an instant.
Falls among elders are difficult and painful. That’s a no-brainer. But did you know they often lead to devastating results, even death?
Causes of Falls
. Sometimes falls occur for reasons we can’t predict or prevent. I can’t tell you the number or times I’ve stumbled on a perfectly flat floor! However, you may not have realized some of the preventable causes.
- Sarcopenia, a loss of muscle mass which is common in the elderly, can cause poor balance and gait, which leads to falls.
- A drop in blood pressure can cause light-headedness. This can be a result of a medical problem or medication.
- Many elders take several medications, and the more medications taken, the higher the risk for side effects which affect balance.
- Rushing, such as trying to get to the bathroom on time because of incontinence.
- Eyesight, hearing and reflexes may be diminished in an elderly person, leading to falls.
- Footwear. Although many elderly people prefer shoes which are both comfortable and safe for their feet, some don’t feel dressed up unless they are wearing their “Sunday best,” which have heels or may be ill-fitted. Shoes and especially slippers should never be backless.
- Many medical conditions can cause problems with feet. This is especially serious when nerve damage affects feeling in the feet.
- Elders with cognitive impairment are at higher risk of falls.
- Vitamin D deficiency.
- Environment: an uneven sidewalk, a rug on the floor, a loose tile. There are many ways to trip!
Each year, millions of older people—those 65 and older—fall. In fact, more than one out of four older people falls each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falling once doubles your chances of falling again. 1.
Those are frightening statistics!
Consequences of Falls
Falls can be devastating in so many ways. Even strains, sprains and bruising can be painful, and the person experiencing them has decreased mobility for a period of time. Mobility is the key to health in many ways, and even a few days of favouring an injury can set an elder back a week or more. Even more serious is a traumatic brain injury if the head is hit. If the elder is on blood thinners, this can lead to all kinds of complications. If anything is broken, months of rehab are needed just to get back to the same level of fitness and mobility.
“Fear of falling” after a fall is an actual syndrome. Some people suffer from this, and it leads to decreased mobility. They are afraid to go out for a walk because they fell, and might fall again. Not moving can be the beginning of a death sentence.
Next week: More consequences, and how to prevent falls.
- https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data-research/facts-stats/index.html#:~:text=At%20a%20glance,your%20chances%20of%20falling%20again.